The beautiful Icelandic goat, also commonly known as the “settlement goat” is an ancient domestic breed believed to be of Norwegian origin. Most likely it arrived in Iceland with the first settlers from the Scandinavian countries over 1100 years ago. ​The Icelandic goat was on the verge of extinction during the late 19th century, but its population recovered recently mainly thanks to a few dedicated goat lovers such as Jóhanna Bergmann Þorvaldsdóttir, a devoted goat farmer in West Iceland.​

We are sometimes surprised by the comments of both Icelandic town people and foreign guests that they find country life a bit boring and unvaried. We could not disagree more! Granted, we do not have the choice of restaurants, movies, theaters, fitness clubs and other places where civilized people meet for recreation. But we sure have our own measures of excitement! 
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​Just the other day we had ​the pleasure of free

​When you drive the ring road these days you will meet a lot of horse trailers. Now in January the horse owners that live in the Reykjavík Capital area drive to the countryside to fetch their horses that have been outside and living “half wild” on large winter fields for a few months. The “horse villages” outside urban areas are now getting busy and especially on weekends and in the early evening hours you can see people riding out and training. 

By now you are most likely busy with preparing for the holidays. So are we! The house is decorated, outdoor Christmas lights are giving the little hamlets and farms a cozy shine during the long nights and inside we have baked, crafted and have been practicing Icelandic Christmas Carols full time!  Icelanders love to sing and in many towns and villages local choirs are giving Christmas Concerts – a wonderful way to find your way into the holiday spirit!

​It has been rather cold in Iceland! Usually the November is the time when Icelanders start to get ready for winter. We get a glimpse of the winter cold and some snow but usually we get some milder days in between as well. Sort of to give everybody a warning: Winter is approaching... get ready! But not this year. By middle of November we were hit with a Siberian type of winter spell – no forewarnings – temperatures dropped accompanied with lots of snow. Even Reykjavík was hit with an unusual early snowy and winter spell – right in time for the lightning of the Christmas decorations downtown. 

His 75th birthday
When you live abroad one of the hardest things is the big distance between your loved ones in your old home country and the loved ones in your new home country.
My dad turned 75 this year – a milestone of course and he made a great decision. Instead of „wasting“ money on a huge party with more food and drinks that would be healthy for him and his „comrades in arms“ he decided to take Mom to Iceland and circle the island with his „escape – daughter“ (me!) his son-in-law and his grandchildren. ​He used to be a history and geology teacher so Iceland was kind of a heaven for him anyway. And he came well prepared! He had read most of the Sagas, had read many guide books on geology and history and studied maps and we together had made a great plan suitable for all, the „knowledge-seeker“ (Dad), the Hiker (Mom) and the kids as well

​I am clearly not the most active blogger for Exploring Iceland, apologies. My excuse: I have been out and about – fishing!     Some very nice sea trout early in the season and more recently brown trout and salmon. I have been at lakes, at the beach and a few rivers, probably 2-3 times a week on average this summer… my family is very patient.

​Some more practical information: 

​We welcome Ása and Hjalti to our group of partners. They have been travelling the Icelandic highland on horseback for decades and we are extremely proud to be working with them next summer. 

Their farm Kjóastaðir is in South Iceland, nestled beautifully in green countryside right between some of the most famous sights of Iceland, the Geysir geothermal field with its erupting hot spring Strokkur and the majestic waterfall Gullfoss. They run together with their daughter

​When I started my horsemanship in 1980, Skagafjörður was the mecca of horse breeding in Iceland.  If you were looking for a competition or breeding horse, Skagafjörður was the place to go to. Farms like Kolkuós, Vatnsleysa, Miðsitja, Varmilækur, Flugumýri, Svaðastaðir, Skörðugil and many more were renowned for great horses.  Sveinn Guðmundsson from Sauðárkrókur was probably one of the pioneers of breeding talented horses and when thinking back, he might have been the most famous breeder at that time in Iceland.